A DAY after 13ft waves engulfed parts of New York, Tynesiders in the US city have told of the devastation wreaked by superstorm Sandy.

Collapsed trees blocking major roads, flooded subway stations and areas in darkness after power cuts was what New Yorkers awoke to yesterday.

As President Barack Obama declared a major disaster in New York and Long Island, making federal funding available to residents, stranded Geordies holidaying in the city were able to leave the confines of their hotel rooms after a terrifying 24 hours.

Dawn Manners, who is staying in Long Island City with her fiance Simon Dowling, both of High Heaton, Newcastle, described Tuesday as a “surreal” day in Manhattan where the usually bustling streets remained empty.

The 23-year-old said: “The subway and bus services were still off so we walked across the Queensboro Bridge to Manhattan yesterday (TUES) and the streets were eerily quiet.

“All of the tourist attractions and major department stores were shut and the few restaurants and bars that were open were very busy.”

She added: “There were a lot of trees in the roads and very few people had power.”

Dawn and Simon, 25, said the storm really kicked into force between 10pm and 11pm local time on Monday.

“The wind was ferocious and our windows were rattling,” said Dawn.

“The noise was the scariest thing, and we were woken up by the power plant explosion on Manhattan, which sounded like it was right outside.”

At least 39 people were killed across seven states by the storm that made landfall in New Jersey and cut power to around 7.5 million people.

Just before it made landfall, forecasters stripped Sandy of hurricane status, but the distinction was purely technical, based on its shape and internal temperature. It still packed hurricane-force winds.